If you open your refrigerator and see nothing but an unhealthy food then you’re probably doing your health a disservice.
Eating out once in a while isn’t a bad practice, but it is a healthier way to stock your kitchen and prepare as many meals as possible at your home.
To prepare meals at home, you need all the really healthy and fresh ingredients, so here is most important food that you should always add to your shopping list:
1. Vegetables
Almost any vegetable is good, with kale being the priority. Kale is a great source of just about everything, especially calcium, iron, vitamins, K, A, C, and even all essential fatty acids and iron so it is no wonder they call it a superfood! For the rest of vegetables, stock up on beets, celery, bell peppers and carrots because they have a better shelf life compared to other vegetables. You can use vegetables in stews, for making stock, and in a lot of other different types of recipes.
2. Fruit
It is no secret that any fruit is healthy, but the fruits you buy at your local farmers market are different than the ones you buy in the supermarket. The types of fruits that you see at the supermarket (apples, oranges, and lemons) are chosen mostly for their yield and durability. Apples and oranges also have the benefit of a longer refrigerator life than most other fruits.
3. Eggs
Get eggs that are organic and from pasture-raised chickens. We know eggs are an easy protein, but they are also pretty much the best food from nature. The health benefits of eating eggs are numerous and not to mention good amounts of fat-soluble vitamins B, A, D, various essential minerals like iodine and fatty acids. Eat the yolks, because that is where most of the nutrients are.
4. Nuts
It’s important to buy raw, unsalted and not roasted to avoid added sodium and unhealthy oils. Nuts contain many brain-boosting and healthy heart fats and are a good protein source with a high amount of vitamins and minerals. Eat a handful for a quick snack, crush on top of soups and pasta gives a nice crunch or add to salads. You can mix it up and try all kinds, but don’t go overboard, because they’re high in calories.
5. Garlic And onions
Both garlic and onion are great healing vegetables. They are anti-viral, anti-fungal, antioxidants and packed with vitamin C, among many other vitamins. Many people use onions and garlic as a base for almost every meal they make. Just chop, dice or slice them and sprinkle with a bit of olive or the coconut oil for a huge flavor and have a healthy meal.
6. Olive oil
Olive oil has distinct flavor and taste. In a difference to many other oils, which are extracted from seeds and nuts, the olive is obtained from the olive hence and berries, and so contains large amounts of plant vitamins, phytosterols and anti-oxidants. It is also high in vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant, needed for skin by protecting it from bad oxygen-free radicals and maintaining the integrity of cell membrane.
7. Green tea
The green tea aids weight loss by triggering the body to burn abdominal fat. Many scientists say that this is because it contains catechins, specific phytochemicals. So with the help from catechins, the green tea not only helps in weight control but reduces the symptoms of many different health problems, like type 2 diabetes. So this is definitely a must to have on your healthy shopping list.